J Sainsbury is to test market various convenience store formats.
The first of three new concepts will open by late summer in Fulham Palace Road, in London. There are plans to add four more stores by September and 15 by the end of the year.
Seven more stores specially designed for country towns are set to open this year and three city centre stores are due to open next year. The first will be in Tottenham Court Road, central London. The company also plans to expand 21 of its existing outlets this year and sees scope to expand 150 in all.
The company has also said it intends to cut 15 Homebase stores in the coming year, after closing nine last.
Sainsbury has reported pre-tax profit in the year to March 7 up 11.8% to £728m.
- The Times 07/05/98 page 27, page 29 (Commentary)
- The Independent 07/05/98 page 3, page 22, page 23 (Outlook)
- Financial Times 07/05/98 page 1, page 19 (Observer), page 20 (Lex), page 24, page 56 (Stock Markets)
- The Guardian 07/05/98 page 22 (Notebook), page 23
- The Daily Telegraph 07/05/98 page 9, page 33, page 35 (City Comment)
